I'm thinking that's the world's a mess right now. I know, you're thinking, "Great insight, Dave. That's really deep. What a keen observer." Okay, I know that that isn't world breaking news. We all know that we're in a mess. And there are a lot of opinions on how we got here and how we get out. Expert testimony and analysis differs widely. But I figure the experts aren't looking to the right solution or at least the person with the right solution.
I don't claim to be an expert on any or all of the world's issues. I don't think I'm even an expert on my own life and why I do what I do. I get confused over that too. But one thing I do know for sure is that everything has its consequences. No matter what I say or do, there is consequence for that. Sir Isaac Newton said that one of the laws of nature is that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. That principle can easily be applied to our behavior, thoughts and actions.
Without trying to sound pessimistic, I'd say the Bible is right when it describes the world as dark or darkness. Darkness is the absence of light. If God is light, there's a lot of places where He is absent. Not by His choice, but by our exclusion of Him. Yes, God is everywhere, but He doesn't push His presence when He is uninvited. He won't intervene where He is not asked or included. He is perfectly willing to let us crash and burn on our own.
Isaiah asks the question in verse 10 of our text, "Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant?" Good question. Fear isn't about being terrified here, it's about respect and reverence. The bottom line on dealing with darkness is simply to trust in the name of the Lord and rely on God. Trusting and relying is more than just acknowledgment. It's about being totally submissive to God's direction and truths.
However, our tendency is try to handle the dark episodes or issues or occurrences on our own. We break out our handy dandy little flashlight and try to dispel the darkness. Even with the flashlight, we can't see everything. You can still stay lost in forest with a flashlight.
Isaiah says, "Go ahead, light your torches, follow your own path, but you can't see down the road like God can. It may seem right to you now, but you're on the wrong path and that path is going to lead to greater trouble and you're really going to be in a mess." I tell people all the time that we can choose to do whatever we want, we just can choose our consequences.
God, I don't know if there is more darkness in this world than ever before or not, but right now there appears to be a lot of darkness out there. What makes it seem worse is that there are a lot of people, influential people who apparently have adjusted to seeing or living in the dark themselves. Darkness has become the norm in society. That scares me a little bit and saddens me even more, because the darkness is becoming heavier, thicker, and spreading into all areas of life, including your church. I want to walk in your light. I'm extinguishing my torch, I'm turning off my flashlight and completely trusting and relying on you.
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